How to Connect VictronConnect: Bluetooth Pairing & PIN

This guide shows how to connect VictronConnect to a Victron Smart product over Bluetooth, and how to fix the pairing and PIN problems that come up most often. VictronConnect is Victron’s free app for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. It’s how you set up and monitor SmartSolar MPPTs, SmartShunts, Blue Smart chargers, Orion DC-DC chargers and more. The steps below follow Victron’s VictronConnect manual.

How to Connect VictronConnect: Step by Step

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
Open VictronConnect and scan. On a phone, pull down the device list or tap refresh. On a computer, click “Scan or Refresh”.
Tap your product. The first time, your phone asks to pair.
Enter the PIN. Most newer products have a random PIN printed on a sticker on the device. If there’s no PIN on the sticker, the default is 000000.
Change the PIN afterwards. Open Product info (via the settings or menu icon in the top right) and choose “change PIN code”. Avoid easy codes such as 111111 or 123456.

Most important rule: always pair from inside VictronConnect, never from your phone’s Bluetooth settings menu. Victron says the app won’t find the product if you pair it there.

Lost or Unknown PIN: Reset It

Product	How to reset
SmartSolar MPPT, SmartShunt, BMV-712, Smart Battery Sense, Lithium Smart, Blue Smart IP22/43/67	In the device list, tap the three-dot menu → “Reset PIN code” → enter the PUK from the label on the back of the product
Blue Smart IP22, IP43, IP65 chargers	Hold the Mode button for 10 seconds until the blue LEDs flash twice
VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle	Hold “Clear PIN” for 5 seconds until both LEDs blink twice

A reset sets the PIN to 000000, not back to the random factory PIN. Change it right away.

Fixes When It Won’t Connect

Restart the phone, fully, not just a lock and unlock. Victron lists this as the first step.
Check it’s a “Smart” product with the Bluetooth symbol. Non-Smart units need a VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle.
Only one phone can connect at a time. Close the app on any other phone.
Remove old pairings. After a PIN change, or if you paired from the system menu, delete the device in your phone’s Bluetooth settings, then pair again from inside VictronConnect.
Android location permission. On older Android versions, VictronConnect needs location access to scan for Bluetooth devices. Enable it in Settings → Applications → VictronConnect → Permissions. Victron notes this isn’t needed on Android 12+ with VictronConnect v5.70 or later.
Firmware update interrupted? The product may show its original name and serial number until the update completes.

Should You Disable Bluetooth?

Some products let you switch Bluetooth off for security. Victron warns that on certain products this is permanent. Only do it if you’ll manage the device by wire, such as VE.Direct to a Cerbo GX.

See the VictronConnect app.

Setting Up Instant Readout

Instant Readout shows key data, such as battery voltage, solar power or charge state, right in the device list without connecting. To turn it on:

Connect to the product and open its settings.
Open Product info.
Turn on Instant Readout via Bluetooth.
Go back to the device list; the data now appears under the product’s name.

It’s a quick way to check several devices at a glance, such as an MPPT, a SmartShunt and an Orion XS, without opening each one.

Naming Your Devices

In a system with several Victron products, give each one a clear name, such as “Roof MPPT” or “House SmartShunt.” Open the product, go to Product info and edit the custom name. The name appears in the device list, in Instant Readout and on VRM.

Keeping Firmware Up to Date

VictronConnect includes the latest firmware for supported products. When you connect, the app tells you if an update is available. Keep the phone close to the device and leave the app open until the update finishes. Updates add features and improvements, so it’s worth installing them.

Setting Up a VE.Smart Network

A VE.Smart Network lets Smart products share battery voltage, temperature and current over Bluetooth. For example, a SmartShunt can send accurate battery voltage and current to an MPPT and an Orion XS, so all of them charge using the same data.

Connect to the SmartShunt or Smart Battery Sense.
Open settings and choose VE.Smart Networking.
Create a network and give it a name.
Connect to each charger and join the same network.

Using VictronConnect on a Computer

On Windows, macOS and Linux, VictronConnect connects over Bluetooth (where the computer supports it) or with a VE.Direct to USB cable. A computer is handy for firmware updates, saving settings files and configuring several devices at a desk before installation.

Demo Mode

VictronConnect includes a demo library of products, so you can explore the settings and screens before you buy or install a device.

Quick Reference: Common Defaults

Item	Default
PIN on older products and after reset	000000
PIN on newer products	Random, printed on the label
PUK	Printed on the label, used to reset the PIN

Securing Your Devices

Change every default PIN, use a different PIN for each device if you like, and keep the PUK labels somewhere safe, such as a photo on your phone. If you sell a device, reset the PIN so the new owner can set their own.

FAQ

Is VictronConnect free?

Yes, on all supported platforms.

Can I see data without pairing?

Many products support Instant Readout, which shows key data in the device list without connecting.

Can I connect remotely?

Yes, through VictronConnect-Remote when the product is connected to a GX device on the VRM portal.

Can I save and copy settings between devices?

Yes. Many products let you save a settings file in VictronConnect and load it onto another unit of the same type.

Does Instant Readout need a PIN?

No PIN is needed to view Instant Readout data, but you need to connect once to switch it on.

Sources: VictronConnect app manual and download page (victronenergy.com); Orion XS and Smart BatteryProtect manuals for Instant Readout and VC-Remote.